Telekinesis MTG Card
1994-06-01 - Number 79
2007-09-10 - Number 52
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Target creature deals no damage during combat this turn. Creature becomes tapped and may not untap as normal during its controller's next two untap phases.
Cards like Telekinesis
Telekinesis is a unique control spell in Magic: The Gathering, sharing its tempo-controlling characteristics with a few notables in the game. It’s akin to cards like Frost Breath, which also incapacitates creatures, preventing them from untapping during the next untap step. However, Telekinesis freezes a creature for two full turns, providing a longer duration of control, which Frost Breath and similar spells do not offer.
Another card with a comparable freezing effect is Sleep, which taps all creatures an opponent controls and keeps them from untapping during the next untap step. Despite its wider impact on the board, Sleep doesn’t ensure the same prolonged control that Telekinesis exerts on a single target. Ice Over is one more to consider, attaching to a creature or vehicle and preventing it from untapping. Again, the strength of Telekinesis lies in its reliability of affecting the creature for a longer period even though Ice Over remains indefinitely until the enchanted permanent is dealt with.
After scrutinizing Telekinesis side by side with its contemporaries, it stands out for its ability to hinder an opponent’s creature significantly longer than other similar spells. This extended impactful control potentially sways the game in a player’s favor, marking Telekinesis as a potent tool in any control deck arsenal.
Cards similar to Telekinesis by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Telekinesis is notable for its ability to lock down an opponent’s creature for multiple turns, disrupting their game plan and potentially giving you the upper hand in maintaining board control.
Resource Acceleration: While Telekinesis does not directly produce additional resources, its low casting cost can efficiently fit into your curve, allowing you to allocate mana judiciously to other spells in the critical early stages of the game.
Instant Speed: The instant-speed nature of Telekinesis provides a strategic advantage, giving you the flexibility to reactively disable new threats during your opponent’s turn or at the end of their turn to pave the way for a clear attack on your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Telekinesis demands the sacrifice of a crucial card from your hand, which isn’t always a feasible trade, especially if you’re holding onto key pieces for your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a precise blend of mana, including blue, which could present obstacles in multicolored decks not heavily favoring this color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Telekinesis coming in at a notable mana investment, players might be deterred, considering other options with a lower cost might provide similar or greater control over the game state.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Telekinesis offers a unique ability to tap creatures without allowing a response due to its instant nature. This flexibility means it can be seamlessly slotted into control decks or any strategy that needs to manage opponents’ creatures effectively.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with strategies that manipulate tap states. Additionally, Telekinesis’s capacity to hold creatures tapped for an entire turn creates opportunities for combos with cards that capitalize on non-untapping phases.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where tempo can decide victory or loss, the ability to influence combat phases or deny resources is extremely powerful. As metas evolve, Telekinesis remains a pertinent choice, challenging creature-heavy decks and disrupting enemy tactics.
How to beat
Telekinesis is a card that can pose quite the puzzle in Magic: The Gathering, capable of freezing an opponent’s creature for an entire turn. This control ability can shift the tide of battle, temporarily removing threats without eliminating them. To effectively counter this, players should look towards instant-speed removal or hexproof-enabling cards. Direct damage spells also serve as a solution, allowing players to remove their own creatures from play before Telekinesis’s effect solidifies, thereby denying opponents the full benefit of the stall.
Another method is to maintain a diverse board state with multiple threats. By spreading out the power across different creatures, the impact of Telekinesis is minimized. Additionally, counter spells are perfect tools against such control tactics, especially when you anticipate an opponent’s intention to play it. The key lies in prediction and strategic foresight, ensuring that the control Telekinesis exerts does not overwhelm your game plan. A balanced deck with answers to various forms of disruption will naturally stand a stronger chance against the potential setback this card presents.
Understanding and preparing for the nuances of disruption cards like Telekinesis is essential for any player aiming to maintain dominance in the game. By having the right counters and strategies in place, you can turn what seems like a disadvantage into an opportunity to fortify your position and eventually emerge victorious.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Telekinesis MTG card by a specific set like Legends and Masters Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Telekinesis and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Telekinesis Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1994-06-01 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Daniel Gelon.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-06-01 | Legends | LEG | 79 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon | |
| 2 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 52 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Daniel Gelon |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Telekinesis has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Telekinesis card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-09-16 | Telekinesis’ ability doesn’t lock in who the creature’s controller is when it resolves. If the creature changes controllers, it won’t untap during its controller’s untap step until it has not done so twice, regardless of who its controller was during any of those untap steps. |